I need some help! I am looking to do some portrait work and am looking into lighting kits. I am a little confused, as I have never purchased lights or backdrops before. I would like to purchase a three point lighting kit with a case, as well as a backdrop w/ @ least two muslins and a case for this as well.
I found some on Amazon.com for the price range that I am looking for, but some reviews said the products were great & others said they were very poor quality. Please keep in mind that I am just starting out and do not need (nor can I afford) top of the line equipment.
If there are any websites that you can recommend to locate said items, I would really appreciate the guidance as well. Thanks so much!
I'll be interested in what jinx has to say here too. I was going to purchase a backdrop with white, black, and green muslin, but never pulled the trigger. I've been getting by with my strobes, lighting stands, umbrellas, and remote triggers, but would love some real studio lights someday. I was eyeing some equipment from alien bees, but can't justify the expense since I have my portable equipment for my occasional portrait work. Looking forward to what the experts say here.
Sorry, just noticed the $200 price limit. Don't think you'll find everything you listed at that price point, but if you can, awesome! I'll be in line for that deal! I'm flagging Weng (@toast) to see if he has any insight here too.
I rent... for the half dozen times I use a full lighting kit, the difference I need in each shot and the lack of storage space, I can rent a full lighting set-up for $35 a day.
Next week I need two strobes, with soft boxes... next month I know I need 4 cans with colour gels on a bar....
This way I can get great equipment, I can try out a bunch...
Oh I should mention I do own two flash-units... the on/off camera type, that can slave and radio flash with my camera... but I assume that in the studio lights you are talking about...
I bought some Glanz backdrops and stands, and for portable kits they are amazingly good for the money spent. I would buy them again. Stand and backdrops for under $200 with a soft case.
For lighting, I love Profoto. I won't buy anything else. That said, for value for money and great quality, I think Alien Bees are probably the first thing you should look at. They will cost a lot more than $200, but if you buy cheap lighting you will be frustrated. Spend the extra, or just get speedlights and a wireless trigger system like PocketWizard (which will still set you back $1000 or so all up). I spent $10k on my lighting, for just two lights and some shapers (on sale, too), so am probably not the right perosn to ask if you're on a tight budget.
I did have a Glanz lighting kit with three lights. It was great in that it was portable, but it was underpowered and inconsistent. Not bad if you shoot with room to move, so to speak, but if you need fine control, bleh. Profoto 1000W Air all the way.
@jinximages - $200 might cover part of the shipping from Profoto, haha! I remember seeing an ad for Profoto with Annie Leibovitz in it and I was like, "These lights look cool. I'll have to check them out.". Uh, yeah, a little steep for someone like me who just wanted to toy around with some lights :).
The best lighting kit and great prices is alienbees...
I have been using them for over 5 years and it is so good.
It is a studio flash
What you need for a BASIC studio:
* The stand to put the flash on: http://www.alienbees.com/ls3050.html
I like the other one ( http://www.alienbees.com/ls3900.html) because it is heavier and sturdier, but if you can't afford it now and if you are just using the bear flash and maybe an umbrella, the first stand is strong for that.
You can also find stands on ebay.
* A white umbrella- a basic "modifier" that will make your light softer and better for portraits. It is just a litle more than $ 200 and soooo worth it...
If you go cheap, you'll regret it. Nothing like cheap lighting (and triggers...) to make you want to bang your head against the wall. Save up a bit more and get something better. Like others in this thread, I use AlienBees and absolutely love them. Get a good quality light, and you can always start out more basic with your umbrellas and lightstands, and build as you go.
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Next week I need two strobes, with soft boxes... next month I know I need 4 cans with colour gels on a bar....
This way I can get great equipment, I can try out a bunch...
Oh I should mention I do own two flash-units... the on/off camera type, that can slave and radio flash with my camera... but I assume that in the studio lights you are talking about...
For lighting, I love Profoto. I won't buy anything else. That said, for value for money and great quality, I think Alien Bees are probably the first thing you should look at. They will cost a lot more than $200, but if you buy cheap lighting you will be frustrated. Spend the extra, or just get speedlights and a wireless trigger system like PocketWizard (which will still set you back $1000 or so all up). I spent $10k on my lighting, for just two lights and some shapers (on sale, too), so am probably not the right perosn to ask if you're on a tight budget.
I did have a Glanz lighting kit with three lights. It was great in that it was portable, but it was underpowered and inconsistent. Not bad if you shoot with room to move, so to speak, but if you need fine control, bleh. Profoto 1000W Air all the way.
I have been using them for over 5 years and it is so good.
It is a studio flash
What you need for a BASIC studio:
* The alienbees B400 - http://www.alienbees.com/b400.html
(it is the flash with the silver thing around it-called reflector)
* The stand to put the flash on: http://www.alienbees.com/ls3050.html
I like the other one ( http://www.alienbees.com/ls3900.html) because it is heavier and sturdier, but if you can't afford it now and if you are just using the bear flash and maybe an umbrella, the first stand is strong for that.
You can also find stands on ebay.
* A white umbrella- a basic "modifier" that will make your light softer and better for portraits. It is just a litle more than $ 200 and soooo worth it...